Can You Freeze It?

Nuts: Yes, you can freeze these! Place your extra nuts in a resealable freezer bag. Use a straw to suck out any air from the bag. (Releasing the air from the bag prevents freezer burn.) Place the bag into another bag or container so the nuts don’t pick up any outside odors. Make sure they are in a safe place in the freezer so they do not get crushed. You can thaw the nuts by roasting them or put them right on top of your ice cream sundae. Nuts will last about a year in the freezer.

You'll Need:

Freezer bags

A freezer-safe container

Uncooked Bacon: Yes, you can freeze it! Take the bacon out of the package it came in. (You can keep it in the original packaging if you plan on defrosting the whole package at once.) Coil up each slice of bacon and place it on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once the bacon is frozen solid, place the coiled pieces in a resealable freezer bag and return them back into the freezer.

You'll Need:

Freezer bags

A baking sheet

Cucumber: No, you can’t freeze it! Cucumbers contain too much water to stand up to the cold. The only way to freeze a cucumber is by puréeing it first.

Lettuce: No, you can’t freeze it! To extend the life of your lettuce, plunge the greens in cold water right after purchasing. Next, spin the greens dry so leftover water doesn’t adhere to the leaves. Put the dried greens into an airtight resealable bag. Using a pin, poke holes in both sides of the bag and store the greens in the refrigerator. This trick can help your lettuce last four times longer than usual.

You Need:

Resealable bags

A pin

Croutons: Yes, you can freeze them! Cube stale bread and toast it for a few minutes. Then, place the croutons into a resealable freezer bag and stow in the freezer. You can also freeze the uncooked bread cubes and toast them at a later time. Croutons will last four to six weeks in the freezer.

You'll Need:

Freezer bags

Tomatoes: Yes, you can freeze them, but only for a sauce or soup! To prep tomatoes for the freezer, wash them and dip them in boiling water for about 30 seconds. This will loosen their skins. Peel and core them. Cut them into pieces if desired, then put them in a freezer-safe container, making sure to leave an inch of space between the pieces.

You'll Need:

A freezer-safe container

Cheese: Yes, you can freeze it! You can freeze all types of cheese, but soft cheese freezes best. Wrap each piece separately in parchment paper. Next, wrap the cheese in another layer of tin foil. This will keep the cheese moist and fresh. Label and date the package so you don’t forget how long your cheese is in the freezer. To thaw, place the frozen cheese in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then take it out so the cheese can reach room temperature. Cheese will last a few months in the freezer.

If you want to jazz up your cocktail game, try playing around with what is on the edge of the glass. The trick is to find flavors that complement each other. The cast of The Kitchen offers up a few of their favorites here.